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Welcome to our library of articles, where you can search and browse over 2,000 articles written by our own team of garden writers. Interested in becoming a Dave's Garden writer? Submit an article to apply.
Are you the gardener in your group with the geek status? That's me...there's a gardener in my soul, but the computer systems analyst in my head pays for the plants. You need some computer savvy to learn to use some of the garden design software that is available, but you certainly don't need to be a 'PC professional'.
There have been many articles written about starting seeds but I think that all of us can continue to learn. I have been a gardener for over 50 years and I continue to pick up tips and information on a variety of gardening subjects. I have been chairman of our Master Gardener greenhouse for a number of years and I have gleaned some information on starting seeds and growing plants that will be beneficial to gardeners both novice and experienced. I’ll take you through it all, from where to get your seeds to transplanting your seedlings into the garden in the spring.
So you've decided to take the plunge and try growing some of your bedding plants on your own from seed. Or perhaps you're already among the initiated, but have had some disappointing failures. I've found that instructions from seed sellers can vary considerably regarding the appropriate germination and growing conditions of a particular plant.
Dozens of kinds of vegetables grow in home gardens. But nearly all of those crops have their "roots" in just a few plant families. Look at vegetable gardening with a family focus. Understand the special needs and attributes of vegetable families when planning and tending your garden. In this article: tips and tidbits about cabbage, broccoli, and the numerous members of their family, Brassicaceae.
Nothing can cheer up a drab winter day as looking out of your window and seeing a parade of brightly colored songbirds at your feeder. I’ll be discussing how to attract them to your yard and more importantly keeping them coming back
The mysterious workings of compost seem like so much black magic to many people – a power that could fall into the wrong hands if many, many rules are not followed. But let’s lay all that to rest.
We all know potatoes (and maybe carrots) belong in stew (especially rabbit stew). But many of us are confounded when facing any of the “other” common root vegetables, such as turnips, parsnips, or rutabaga. If you’ve only eaten these vegetables mashed, then you haven’t really eaten them. They are superb roasted, and they are the foundation for fabulous winter soups and stews.
A little over a year ago, I stumbled across a little plant in a pot at a botanical garden plant sale. It immediately brought back childhood memories of the same plant growing in a pot in my parents' living room. As a child, I was fascinated by the way the plant, which my mother called a Piggyback Plant, would reproduce. Instead of setting seed or sending out runners, it formed dozens of tiny plantlets along the jagged edges of the leaves. When I found a specimen again as an adult, I had to purchase it! I thought it would be interesting for my own kids, as well as in the classroom. Let me introduce you to this fascinating plant!
Gardeners have a keen sense of humor and we know that you'll enjoy adding your family-friendly quote or description to the image. We'll supply the picture and everyone can post their funniest title. We can't wait to see what you come up with!
I love blue, and this interesting member of the Parsley family is one of the easiest blue flowers I know. Drought-resistant and un-fussy about soil types, Sea Holly is a wonderful addition to any perennial garden.
Gardening is both art and science, with some luck and skill thrown in for good measure. A big part of what attracts people to Dave's Garden has always been our forums, where gardeners ask and answer questions for one another. Occasionally we come across a question that we find particularly interesting or intriguing. We hope you find these questions (and answers, penned by our admins and writers) helpful as you grow your gardening knowledge!
Ficus benjamina, or weeping fig, is a houseplant favored for its graceful shape and glossy leaves. It also has a reputation for being a bit finicky. If you have just brought your ficus indoors after a summer vacation outside, it is no doubt going through a period of adjustment and some--maybe lots--of its leaves are yellowing and dropping.
Many unusual fruits are misleadingly named after more common types. However, some of those exotic "imposters" are actually easier to grow than the better-known varieties -- and succulent enough to stand on their own merits! The first three listed here are only hardy in the warmer zones. Being small trees, however, they adapt well to containers.
We all have to start somewhere. These are the most popular small blooming plants to grow in a greenhouse or, if you have the right place for them to live, in the house too! They are great plants that come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes so take some time and dig into the ones that really strike your fancy.
Are you wondering how to arrange your pots so all the plants would get enough light? I'll tell you what I'm doing: rotate, rotate and, again, rotate my pots, all year long!
The air is full of snowflakes and so cold that the rhododendron leaves outside the window have folded in on themselves. I sit at the dining room table as dusk draws in with a pile of seed catalogs at my elbow and a cup of vanilla tea to hand.
The name manzanita comes from the Spanish for 'little apple'. Although the plant is no relation to apples (Malus x domestica), the tiny ripening fruits do look like apples and the fruit and seeds were used as food by Native Americans. In modern times, the plants are more likely to be appreciated for their smooth red bark and sculptural form.
It grew on the rock wall in front of my grandmother's yard. Behind it lived the mysterious faeries and gnomes who flavored my bedtime stories. I learned early that it was called Ivy, and my aunt had been named for it. I left treasures as gifts for the little people who lived there, the feather of a blue bird, a tiny marble of red glass, and an occasional cookie. I watched closely for any signs of movement.
Basil is an important plant for our orthodox religion, present in all masses and rituals, but its most important contribution is, without a doubt, on Boboteaza Day : the religious celebration of Christ's baptism, celebrated every year, on January 6 . The priests use basil for blessing the water, but this isn't the only use of basil on this day. Romanian tradition says that basil has magical powers which can help a single young girl dream about the man who is meant to be her future husband.
Dave’s Garden was launched in 2000 and over the years, we’ve introduced new features that have become standards in the gardening world. This week, we’re launching a brand-new program that we think is a great addition to the community; the Garden Showcase!
Gardeners have a keen sense of humor and we know that you'll enjoy adding your family-friendly quote or description to the image. We'll supply the picture and everyone can post their funniest title. We can't wait to see what you come up with!
Did you know that your landscape design can help the environment? If you live in an area that receives precipitation, the addition of a rain garden can help protect your local watershed by controlling stormwater runoff from your home.
I love Chinese food! Not the typical suburban fried “chicken balls” in psychedelic orange sauce but authentic, regional cuisines I learned about while living in Toronto’s original “china town”. We had a hard time finding a restaurant that served my familiar favorites when we moved to Atlanta, so I began growing vegetables I needed to make the food I loved. Soon I learned that many of these vegetables grow well in cool weather and are frost tolerant.
The New Year has arrived and with it comes the award shows. We have the Golden Globes, Oscars and Grammy Awards, but did you know that Dave’s Garden has awards too? Each January, we announce the Top 5 companies in each Garden Watchdog category. The vendors anxiously await the results and a Top 5 badge is as coveted as any golden statue. We’d like to take this time to honor the vendors that you, the customers voted as the very best.
Hibiscus moscheutos. These eye-popping beauties are, surprisingly, not well known here. Many people can't believe they can grow here. Believe me when I say, they can, and do!! No special care required.
Two horticultural professionals took some of the most popular garden myths into the university laboratory to prove or disprove the accuracy of these myths. Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott from Washington State University and Dr. Jeff Gilliam from the University of Minnesota tested these myths under controlled conditions to determine if they really work.
It is the winter season and time to hibernate. No. It's time to grab your camera and capture the beauty of winter. The flowers are not in bloom, and the vegetable garden is out of season. But the gardens are still lovely. Peek through that frosty window and see the glory of winter sparkling in your gardens. This article includes photos of my winter garden and plant suggestions to enhance your winter landscape.
This article should probably be subtitled "The Ravages of Root Rot." That malady might be called the cancer of the plant world, as it is one of the most frequent killers. Like cancer, it often seems to strike suddenly, but actually festers in secret before it becomes obvious. It can leave many an overconscientious gardener asking, "Why is my plant so sick when I take such good care of it?"
Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is one the tiny plants that makes a big statement in the garden. It’s one of those that I like to call a little giant, because no matter how small it is, its contribution to the garden can be gargantuan.
When I was a child, I thought the best parts of a wedding were the bride's dress and the stack cake. The trouble was, I wasn't allowed to touch the beautiful dress with my grimy hands, nor was I able to swipe the apple butter that dripped down the sides of the stack cake.
People who have heard the expression "as slow as molasses in January" may be surprised to learn that on Wednesday January 15, 1919, molasses moved at a brisk pace through the narrow streets of Boston's Italian North End. Read on to learn about the "Boston Molasses Flood" of 1919, almost 100 years ago.
Perhaps growing palms from seeds is not entirely unique a process, but as I know little about growing much else from seed, I present this article, and the follow up one, for those who have little experience with palm seeds, germination and care.
The butterfly amaryllis, or Hippeastrum papilio, is a relatively new addition to the world of the cultivated amaryllis. At one point thought the be extinct in its natural rainforest habitat, it is now widely propagated throughout Holland and the U.S.
With the interest in tropical gardening surging amongst people who live far north of the tropical zones, anything that makes this easier is a boon. For those who don't have a greenhouse, a warm, lit basement or an extra room in which to overwinter their favorite tropicals, a garden consisting of tropical-looking plants that go dormant in winter can be the next best thing . . .
Gardeners have a keen sense of humor and we know that you'll enjoy adding your family-friendly quote or description to the image. We'll supply the picture and everyone can post their funniest title. We can't wait to see what you come up with!
Winter doesn’t have to be a time for your garden to sleep. A winter flowering wonderland can be one of the many faces of your garden. As things slow down and fall comes to an end, many gardeners hightail it inside to pore over catalogs and sulk for the winter; just waiting for those first green shoots to emerge. You don’t have to spend the winter wishing and hoping. Stop counting down the days until the Old Farmer's Almanac says, ''It's safe to garden again; the last frost date has passed.'. You can create a winter flowering wonderland.
With the arrival of the New Year, gardeners’ thoughts are turning to new plants and seeds. Our mailboxes are crammed full of catalogs and the gorgeous images are eye candy for winter-weary eyes. Since January is designated National Mail Order Gardening Month, many shoppers are turning to the Garden Watchdog for information, so we thought we’d explain how the feature works.
